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It has taken me a long time to finally get around to blogging some of my sweet fall family mini-session photos! I love meeting the Hornberg fam—the two girls gave me a run for my money, but we had a blast chasing each other around in the grass. There are so many family photographers in the Des Moines and Ames area… it really was a treat to be chosen by mom Katie, to update the family photos! I can’t wait to see these sweet girls grow up over the years.

This fall, I did my first-ever Fall Mini-Session weekend. And it was CRAZY!!! I actually had to add time slots, which blew my mind. It was the perfect welcome to living and being a family photographer in Des Moines! The day of my mini sessions in Des Moines, it was cool and cloudy, perfect weather for fall photos. I had the best time meeting some new families, and playing with the cutest kids!

Have you ever wished you didn’t have to move out of your first apartment? Well, I can’t help you with that— but I can help you remember just a little bit of how it felt to live there! I offer in-home sessions (for those in homes, apartments, or just about anywhere!) for anyone looking to hold on a little longer to a space. Naomi and James have lived in this sweet one-bedroom apartment for a year, and it was a joy to photograph them living life together on random Wednesday afternoon.

It’s always an honor when friends trust me to take photos of their lives! I’ve known Mary and Tom since childhood. Although we aren’t close anymore (living in different cities and being in totally unique life stages can do that!), I love seeing them at friends weddings or just bumping in to them when I’m back in Cedar Falls.

WOW. This session was a literal dream come true! Tanya and Alex are expecting their first, a little girl, in December— just two months out! We spent the perfect evening out in a gorgeous field at sunset, taking some photos to commemorate the short time left of just the two of them.

Happy September! With my fall mini-sessions coming up in just a month, I've had lots of questions on what to wear for family photos! Picking outfits can be a challenge, so I decided to create a few free resources for families who want to look "on point" for their pictures! (Does anyone even say that anymore?!) One great resource is Pinterest. I've created a Pinterest Board specifically for families & family photo outfits!

I'm so excited to announce my Fall Mini-Session dates! This is the first year that I've been able to really do this (hooray for full time photography!) and I'm just so excited to see what families sign up for a session.

When the Felkins family asked me to photograph their family, I was thrilled! I've known the twin girls, Sam and Alex, for a few years now and had come into contact with the rest of the family briefly over time. Michael is a pastor at a local church, and he's also officiated quite a few of the weddings that I've photographed! We started off their family photo session in their backyard. It's always special to photograph people in "their" space. Plus, that meant dog Tex could join in on the fun! He was a fan of the love, as you'll soon see.

Family photos tell the story of what bonds a specific cluster of humans, and who they are together. We don't take family photos for today, we take them for the future. They will be passed on, and remembered, for years to come! Personally, I love looking at family photos from my childhood! They help me reminisce (or wish I could) on the places we've been, the people we were, and simple things... like what I loved as a kid. (My purple corduroy overalls and matching hat, if you were wondering.) So, it was a true joy for me to drive from Des Moines to Cedar Falls to take family pictures for our neighbor family earlier in July!

This family has been a true gift to ours. They moved in next door about 5 years ago (I think?) and it's been the best thing that has happened to our neighborhood! The kids bring so much life and laughter, and almost every time I visit home, we hang out.

This sweet family has allowed me to photograph them for years now! It's been so fun to watch Emma grow from a slightly-bald baby to a walking, dancing, talking, question-asking three year old! She even held my hand for a little bit during their photo session... totally melted my heart. <3 And she also showed off her cool dance moves (seriously, she's got me beat!) and her pretty new nail polish. This little lady sure knows how to be cool!

I got to hang out with David & Ashley last Friday morning (way earlier than I am normally up, honestly!). But the light was gorgeous--especially after days of clouds and rain--and we were on a mission... to snag some 6 month photos of Lily before she crashed and took a nap. I love hanging with these friends on a pretty regular basis, and sneak baby snuggles any chance I get, but this was the first time I'd photographed Lily since she was born!

These photos were taken on a super windy and chilly October day in Iowa. The whole Hansen crew managed so well, and Isla even slept through part of our photo session! We had to get some natural light photos (of course) and even snuck into the nursery Scott's mom has made up for Isla.

People, and new friendships, are some of the very best things about life. (I'm also an extrovert and suuuuper people oriented...so that's probably why!!) It's been so fun for me to get to know Emily and Rich over the past 3 years. They are servant-hearted people, generous givers, and so kind! As I've gotten to know them and spend more time with them, I've also been able to watch their family grow. Last year, they added the cutest (and strong willed!) little girl into their family. It's been amazing to watch her change and grow, both physically and in personality! She definitely wasn't sure about the camera (or me, for that matter) but we still managed to capture some fun family photos!

It isn't too late to schedule a family session this fall! I have a few spots open yet in November, so shoot me an email via the contact page above if you want some updated family photos for your Christmas cards!

Ashley and David have become good friends to me over the past 6 years. Although I can't remember the first time I met them, I knew they were cool older college students, and yet I somehow scored an invitation to their wedding! It was a gorgeous day, and a sweet memory. Just a few years after that, they came to work at Iowa State...and I've been able to spend lots of time with them, through work and fun. David has introduced me to my favorite game (Codenames, seriously, you need this in your life!) and Ashley mentored me last year over lots and lots of coffee. It was SO fun to find out this spring that their family is expanding, and "Lil' Party" will be joining the crew in just a few weeks! We cannot wait to meet her (& find out her real name). These two will be fantastic parents, & it's going to be a sweet new season of life for them!

One of the joys in being a photographer is that it's a natural way to connect with people…including friends from my high school days! It's wild to believe that my class graduated from Cedar Falls High seven years ago. What's even crazier, is that I haven't seen many of my high school friends since then. So much can happen in seven years, so when Annie emailed me about updating their family photos, I jumped on that!

Annie married Josiah a year after we graduated, and they now have two adorable little boys! Their family is fun and caring—I could tell just how close they are when their oldest told me that his favorite superhero is his daddy. *cue all the heart eyes* It was a treat to shoot some family pictures for the Smith family…you just can't go wrong with cute little dudes in chambray, right?!

I've been able to do 2 sessions of this family (last spring's here!) and it has been just a blast to watch Emma grow up! This was my favorite session. Not only was the light and weather perfect, but Emma is talking and old enough to really have fun with. ;) She let me pick her up at the end of the session and actually didn't want to let go! Hahaha kids really are the best thing.

I am so glad that Katie suggested doing photos out by the bluebells! The Katoski Greenbelt Trail is known for its carpet of tiny blue and purple flowers in Cedar Falls and Waterloo. People come from all over to take strolls, picnic, or take family and even wedding photos among the bluebells! We definitely caught them at just the right time, too!

If you're interested in a family photo session of your own, I would love to connect with you! Just shoot me an email via my "contact" page up top.

This family came into my life last summer (2015) and I'm SO glad for that! Emily and Rich are just wonderful people, and when I found out they were expecting, I was thrilled. Their little girl was born this summer, and I finally got to meet her when we photographed some family portraits in Cedar Falls during the fall. It was a little wet, but the trees were gorgeous & they modeled perfectly! Cheers to blogging photos 5 months late. ;)

I get a lot of people these days asking me if I photograph babies. The answer is: not often. But, it's always a treat to! My favorite way to photograph little ones is within the context of their family. Parents, siblings, those who love them most—surrounding them with moments of love! So it was a pure joy to escape to Ankeny in October to practice my family photography and make photos with this cutie & her parents! Thank you, crazy fall weather, for giving us a perfect evening with golden light and magic floating about in the warm breeze.